Road maintainer



D. B. REARDON.

ROAD MAINTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1920.

Patented Sept. 19, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Ww @m D. B. REARDON.

ROAD MMNTAINEH.

APPLICATION FILED sePT.2I. 1920.

@www I Patentedep't. I9,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

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elfi* arrasa.;

nANIEL B. larmaron', or COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. y

ROAD MAINTINER.

`Applicati01r :filed September 27, 1920.- SerialNo. 413,()25

To alb/whom t mag/concern.' 4

vBe it known that I, DANIEL B. REARDON,

a .citizen of the United States, residing at Council Bluiis,'in .the county of Pottawattamie andState of Iowa, have inventedcer-4 t-ain new and useful improvements in vRoad Maintainers, .of which the followingis al invention;

specification.-

The present y,invention relatestoI road maintainers7 or to a' deviceadapted for use in scraping and maintainingin a'rel'atively smooth condition the/upper surface or carpet of a`road.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device ofI this character with means whereby the scraper' or surface treating implement may be'adjusted asl to its transverse angle ywith respect to the length of the-device, andi-wherein such -ad justment may be effected by the forward movement ofthe device -combinedf'with the weight of the implement so that'allfmechanism and power iseliminated which is; ordivnarily required in the adjustment'of the transverse angle ofthe implement.

Another object of the invention is to pro-v vide a Iroad maintainer orsurface scraper of this type with means permitting the utilization of the weight ofthe operator for holding the implement in lcontact with the road surface and 1n the provision of'means 'under' the control of the o erator fo'i raisino` and lowering` the'opposite 'ends of the implement for effecting desired' variations in the horizontal level of the road surface.

A further object of the invention is tov provide an improved construction whereinL the implement vor Iscraper is supported against undue thrust or ystrain ,at opposite' ends and at all positions of y'adjustmentso that there' is always a straight line pull ofv reinforcement for Athe opposite ends vof the scraper. This feature of theinventi'on also embraces the provision of braces or` supports for the opposite ends of the 'implement' and which are m'ountedvand constructed to yield or vary to a predetermined extent fortaling up inequalities in the roadway, obstructions and the like which 'tend Ato temporarily'lift the opposite ends of the iin'p'lement.""

l/Viththe foregoing and other objects in view, the invention ywillPbe :more fully described hereinafter,and will be more pare ti'cularly` pointed out in the claims appended hereto. f:- 'Y

`In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding' parts throughouty thel several views,

Fig. 1 is a top planview of a. road maintainer constructed according to the present Fig. 2 is atop plani'view -of a brace rod i forming a partl of the structure;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of a portion of the frame'and the adjustable connection between the frame and the brace rod shown inF ig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device;

Fig. `5 is a'transverse section taken substantially in the plane indicated by the'line 5--5 in Figl and showing the independent' f,

ly operable elevating devices connected to the'lopposite ends of the implement or scraper Fig. 6 is atransversel section taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line '6 6 in Fig. 3; and l Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the brace' rod of `F ig. 2. f

Referringto these drawings, wherein like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views,` 10 designates lthe frame ofthe machine and which is preferably constructed of a length vof channel iron bent substantially U-shaped is provided 'with a substantially semi-circular bottom plate 16 and a correspondingly 4shaped top plate or'platform 17. These two plates are secured against thetop and bottom edges of the frame 10 and provide av suitable support for a vertical spindle 18 which rises through the central portions vof "the plates 16 and 17 and which carries a bolster 19upon its lower end and to which is secured the front axle stery19 and may be attached to a traction en-v gine or to any suitable draft rigging used for the drawing of the machine overtho VS1111'- face of the road.

.Theframe 10 .carriesan intermediate transverse brace 23 having substantial width and carryingupon its under side a depending plate orsuppolt 24 which at its upper end is bolted or otherwisesuitably -and'rigidlysecured to the brace .23., Spaced apart .strapvbearings 25 project from. one side of the support 24 and are arranged in verticaly alignment for the reception of a tubular post 26. The upper end of the post yis reduced and threaded to provide a stem 27 which projects upwardly through an opening in the brace bar 23. The .stem -27-also projects4 upwardly throng-ha preferably Wooden vcross bar'28which extends over and 'between-the sides of the frame- 10 and upon which the tubularv posty '26 vis supported by means olf a pin 29 which is secured transversely through the upper end of the stem 27:. llie cross piece 28 fricti onally engages against the tops of the side bars l0 and yieldingly holds the.

scraper in `adj usted position.

each ,end of `the cross piece .128 is ai ranged an inwardly and rearwardlypreject- Ainghandle 30 fof desired'length and fulcrumednear its forward end on a pin 3.1." c`arried by the brace-28. ,The forward-end of veach handle 30 is .relatively short and has attached thereto the upper end lof a cable or other flexible connector 32 .which is .engagedwith an eye 3.3 at itsllower end vand which lso eye is mounted upon the adjacent end of a transversely extending scraper.

' The scraper is formed of two or more sul@h stantially U-shaped brackets 34 spaced apart near-.the opposite ends of the Scraper andwhich support a platform or 4board 3 5 lupon which the operator may stand and which is secu-red by bolts 36 in position on the brackf ets 34. The brackets34 open. forwardly and their free ends are lheild apart in suitable spaced relation by sleeves 37 which `are -clamped or otherwise "suitably secured be-y tween the lfreeends ofthey brackets.' The lower portions of the bracketsr34 are extended beyond '-.the upper portionsthereofand are preferably bent v.down ata desired angle for engagement with and securlement to the rear l vided with yan.attaching.bar 45 which pro'- .jects into the` forward end of the 'adjacent edge portion of a concaved yscraperblade 38 of the machine.

supported by the brackets 34 upon the fra-me y The scraper blade 38`is ofconveir.form` throughoutits length and hasja lower cutting` edge adapted to drag or scrape upon the up? equalities inthe road.

scraper Abladet at opposite ends and may be adjusted by the hand levers 30 to raiseand lower theends of the scraper blade, means is provided' foisupporting the scraper blade at the desired transverse angle with respect to the length of the machine. .The means comprises a. pair of `brace rods 39 pivotally connected at .their lower ends yto theupstandingsleeves 37 'at opposite ends of the scraper blade 38. `The bracefrods 39 project upwardlyandforwardly toward the sides .of

the vfl'itlli'l'@ ,and have on their upper ends.

Tehead's 40 lying substantially in planes at right angles vtothe axes of the brace rods y39 and which are vadapted to enter through slots alfgrmied .in A the-.outer 'sides of a pair of slides :42 `which are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement upon the oppositeJ sides of the frame l0.

The slots4lare substantially horizontal and the brace rods '3 9 are adapted to be interlocked upon the slides 42by introduction of the heads 40 and through the slots 4l when 'the brace rods 3 9 are in lsubstantially vertical position.l 'By swinging the brace rods 3 9 in-to their normal .position for operation Such as shown in Fig. .4,fthe. heads 40 are turned in the sli-des 42 into a position out ofy registrywith the .slots 41 so that the heads are thus'ginterlockedin the slides `and are permitted a sliding movement in the slide sufficient to compensate for .normal in- As .shown .to advantage in Fig. 6, the chan` bottom edges of the fra-me bar `l0, and .angle plates 4 3 are y.bolted or otherwise suitably securedto the flanges of .the .slide -42and yare adapted .to lapzoveragainst the inner side of the yframe 101 forjsglidabily holding the slide 42 to the frame..A The slide 42 is thus of hollow construct-ion v to accommodate .the head 40 of ythegadjacentj brace .rod 39, andthe slides 4.2 :are connected `together by a chain 44 or. the like which is carried in the channel of the frame 10 about the forward rounded end thereof. v

The vrear .ends vof the chain` are eachjproslide 4.2 and is .securedto the slide .by a bolt 46 or the like. Thus, when one slide is .Y

moved rearwardly the opposite slide is drawn forwardly. In order to adjust the iso slides 42 lengthwise of the yframe the rear end portion of the slides are connected to cables or other flexible elements 47 which are carried rearwardly in the channel of the frame into a position substantially in line with the intermediate cross brace 23.

j At this point the cables 47 are carried inwardly toward each other and are preferably interconnected, or the cable 47 may be made in one continuous length secured at opposite end sto the slides 42 and are adapted to maintain the chain 44 taut and to hold the slides 42 from shifting forwardly upon any pressure. of the brace rodsI 39 to shift the slides forwardly or from any other cause.

The slides 42 are held from shifting by a latch adapted to interlock with the chain 44. The latch comprises abar 48 which is slidably mounted within the forwardend of the frame 10 and preferably` between the plates 16 and 17, and with its nose projecting through an opening in the web of the frame to admit theprojection of the latch 48 intoy openings 49 of the chainto lock the chain from longitudinal shifting.

The latch bar 48 may be provided with branch arms 50 on its rearend supporting springs 51 normally urging the latch Abar 48 to move forwardly, andthe arms 50v may have connected thereto a pull rope 52 which extends rearwardly of thev frame and in position for easy access of the operator for releasing the chain. -Y

ln the operation of the device the cables 32 may be adjusted to. relatively position the scraper blade 3 8 forcontact with the sur- Jface of the road. When this relative position is obtained the handles 30 may be operated as desired to tilt the scraper 38 to conform with the inclination or curvature of the road surface and the scraper may thus be vertically adjusted.

Vhen it is desired to change'the inclination ofthe scraper blade 38 transversely of the machine it is only necessary to draw the rope 52l and release the latch 48 from the chain 44. lNhen thus released one ofthe handles 30 may be depressedto elevate one end of the scraper blade and allow theother end'to drag in the road. The friction between the road and the lower end of the scraper blade is such that said end of the scraper will be moved rearwardly, and as the chain 44 is released the slides 42 may thus be shifted.

-Then the desired inclinationis had the pull rope 52 is released and the springs 51 snap the latch 48 into interlocking' engage,- ment with the chain and thus hold the parts inthe new position. i f

l do not wish to be restricted to the size,

form, and proportions of the various parts,

and obviouslyl changes .couldbe made in the.

being only necessary that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

c 1. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame,

a scraper arrangedbeneath the frame, slides mounted on opposite sides of the frameJ a flexible device connecting the slides one to the other and engaging about the forward end of the frame to advance one slide upon the backward shifting of the other, braces pivotally connecting the slides to the opposite ends of the scraper for maintaining the latter in adjustedposition when the slides are shifted, and means for elevating one end of the scraper whereby to permit the other end of the scraper to drag in the roadway and shift' said slides for changing the angular relation of the scraper to the wheeled frame, and means for locking they slides in adjusted position.

.2. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame, a scraper arranged beneath the frame, a pair of handles mounted on the frame, flexible connectors extending from vthe handles to the opposite ven ds of the scraper whereby upon tension of the handles the ends of the scraper may be independently raised and lowered, bracing means arranged at opposite sides of the frame and connectedto the opposite ends of the scraper, said bracing means being shiftable lengthwise of the frame for changingthe angular relation of the scraper to theframe, said-scraper being adapted tobe elevated at one end whereby the other end of' the scraper is adapted to drag in the roadway and shift the scraper into the desired angular relation to the wheeled frame, and means for locking the adjustable braces to the frame.

3. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame, a transverse scraper arranged beneath the frame, adjustable depending supports carried by the frame and engaging the opposite ends of the scraper, and shiftable braces carried upon the opposite sides of the frame and having connection with the opposite ends of the scraper whereby upon the dragging of one end of the scraper said braces are adapted to be shifted rfor changing the angular relation of the scraper with respect to the wheeled frame.

4. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame,

a transverse scraperbeneath the frame, de

nection with the opposite rends of thel scraper, said scraper being adapted to drag.

atone end in the roadway for shifting` the scraper into the desired angle relatively to the frame, and means for locking said 'bracingmeans in vadjusted position on the frame.

5. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame, a kpair of slides mounted upon the opposite sides of the frame7 a brace hinged to each slide and projecting downwardly and-rearwardly therefrom, a scraper, means connecting the opposite ends of the scraper to the 'lower ends of said braces,jmeans connecting saidk slidesl together to move one forwardly as the other is moved rearwardly for changing the angular relation of the scraper beneath the frame, and independent means connected to the opposite ends of the scraper for elevating said ends whereby one end of said scraper is adapted to be elevated and the other end adapted to drag in the roadway for changing vthe angular relation same, -a scraper connected at opposite endsl to said' cables and adapted to hang thereon and'to assume the angular relation `of said beam, slidesfmovably mounted upon the op# posite sides of the frame, means for locking the slides in adjusted position, and connec-y tions between'the slides and the v'opposite ends of thescraper whereby when saidslides are released said' scraper is adapted to drag at voneend, in the roadway for changing the angular relation of the scraper'andits sup-` porting/beam relatively .to theframe, Suid locking meansbellgldapted to secure said slides in adjusted position.

7. 'In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame including achannel bar rounded at the forward end oft-he frame and providing an out-y wardly facing channel, a pair `,of slides mounted @on the channel vbar 'at opposite" sides ofthe iframe', a chain connecting said slidesl together and extending in said chans` nel laround the forward endA of the frame, a 'pair of braces pivoted upon the slides, a scraper attached f at opposite ends to the freev ends of the braces and adapted to beI drawn forwardly thereby, and adjustablel suspension means carried by the frame and connected to'l the opposite rends of the scraper for independently and vertically Yadjusting ythe opposite ends thereof.

8. In r`a road maintainer, l a wheeled 'frame` having a rounded forward end and anexteriorly facing channel in said end, a `pair Sof slidesrmounted on the sides of the frame, a chain connecting said slides together and .extending'aroundthe forward end of said frame linthe channel, locking 'means normalflyengaging said chain'to maintain the .sameaga-inst lasliding movement,'a scraper ysuch position.

suspended ybeneath the intermediate p0rtion of theframe and adapted to be raised and lowered v,at opposite ends, and braces connecting the opposite ends of the scraper to Athe respective slides vfor holding the scraper in the desired transverse angular position relatively to the-frame, and a latch engaging said chain to hold the same against sliding movement for retaining the slides in the desired position of adjustment.

9.v 'In' a road maintainer,a wheeled frame having a rounded forward end and a channel in the frame, a slide mounted on'each side of the frame, a chain connecting the slides and extending in said channel aroundl vthe yforward end of theframe, alatch carried by the frame adapted to interlock vwith `said chain vfor maintaining -itfrom sliding movement, means for -retracting the latch, a scraper pivotally mounted upon the frame and depending therefrom, braces' between the vopposite endsl of y"the scraper and said slides for supporting the scraper, and means for vraising and `lowering `the opposite ends of thel scraper whereby onefend of the` scraper may be loweredl to drag on the roadway land said latch may be" released for changing the angular position-of the scraper beneath the iframe,-l said latch being adapted to interlock with the chain when-'the-scraper is adjusted for maintaining `the scraper iny 10, In a road maintainer, a ywheeled frame, scraper suspended 'beneath the frame,` bracing dmeans' n iounfted lon opposite sides of the frame forlongitudinal adjustment, means connecting said bracing means' for effecting the 'same relative forward and rearward adjustment thereof, locking means for the `bracing means to maintain the same in adjusted position, and means @for 'raising and lowering the opposite ends' of the scraper,v wherebyv said scraper may be lowered, at one end into engagement with theV roadway and said bracing means may be re' leased to shift said scraper by frictional contact with the roadway into the desired angu-v lar adjustment beneath the frame, said locking'means being yadapted to hold the bracing means in adjusted position. f

'11. f In a 4road maintainer, a wheeled frame,

a scraper suspended beneath the middle portion of the frame, a pair of slides mounted for longitudinal movement on the opposite sides of the frame, al connection between the slides adapted-to proportionately move the oppositeslides forwardly and rearwardly in alternate relation .upon the frame, braces carried by the slides, connections between the braces and the opposite ends of said scraper f whereby `to support the opposite ends ofthe scraper upon the forward movements of the frame, and means for locking the slides iin adjusted position.

12.A ln aroadmaintaine-r, ak frame, a slide mounted upon the frame and having an elongated slot therein, a scraper carried by the frame, a brace adapted for connection at one end with the scraper to support it against longitudinal displacement, said brace having a T-head upon its other end adapted for insertion through said slot when said brace is swung into a position to dispose said T-head in registry with the slot, said T-head being adapted to interlock the brace within the slide and permit sliding longitudinal movement of the brace relatively to the slide for taking up inequalities in the surface of the roadway.

13. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame, a scraper suspended beneath the intermediate portion of the frame, a pair of slides mounted upon the opposite sides of the frame near the forward end thereof, a chain connected at opposite ends of the slides and extending around the forward end of the frame, a spring latch normally interlocking with the chain to hold the same against sliding movement, braces carried by the slides connected to said scraper, and means for releasing said latch whereby said scraper may be shifted into various angular positions transversely beneath the frame, said latch being adapted to automatically interlock with said chain for maintaining the slides and the scraper in adjusted position.

14. In a road maintainer, a wheeled frame, a scraper suspended beneath the intermediate portion of said frame, a slide mounted upon each side of the frame near the forward end thereof, a chain connecting said slides together and extending about the forward end of the frame, a flexible connector extending transversely through the intermediate portion of the frame and connected at opposite ends of said slides whereby to maintain said chain under tension at all times, and a pair of braces carried by said slides and connected to the opposite ends of said scraper for supporting the same 'various angular adjustments transversely beneath the frame.

In testimony whereof, l have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL B. REARDON.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. STUReEs, HIRAM A. STURGES. 

